Methods for treating viral infections

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for treating a viral infection in a subject in need of such treatment comprising administering to the subject a photosensitizer formulated in a liposome carrier, and exposing the subject to light at a wavelength 20-40 nm greater than the maximum absorption of the photosensitizer at a sufficient dose and duration to treat the viral infection in the subject. The present invention also provides a method for treating a viral infection in a subject in need of such treatment comprising administering to the subject (i) a photosensitizer formulated in a liposome carrier and (ii) at least one quencher, and exposing the subject to light at a sufficient wavelength, dose and duration to treat the viral infection in the subject.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A method for treating a viral infection in a subject in need of such treatment comprising administering to the subject a phthalocyanine formulated in a liposome carrier, said liposome carrier comprising 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-phosphocholine (POPC) and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-(phospho-L-serine) (DOPS), and exposing the subject to light at a wavelength of about 695-705 nm at a sufficient dose and duration to treat the viral infection in the subject. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, wherein the viral infection is caused by a virus selected from the group consisting of human immunodeficiency virus, Cytomegalovirus, Ebstein-Barr virus, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus, and Herpes Simplex viruses. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2, wherein the virus is human immunodeficiency virus. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1, wherein the phthalocyanine is an aluminum, germanium, gallium, tin or silicon phthalocyanine; a sulfonated-aluminum, germanium, gallium, tin or silicon phthalocyanine; or a nitrated-aluminum, germanium, gallium, tin or silicon phthalocyanine. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4, wherein the phthalocyanine is a sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5, wherein the sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine is aluminum tetrasulfophthalocyanine or aluminum disulfophthalocyanine. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 4, wherein the phthalocyanine is a silicon phthalocyanine. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7, wherein the silicon phthalocyanine is hydroxysiloxydimethylpropyl-N-dimethyl silicon phthalocyanine (Pc4). 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 1, wherein the ratio of POPC to DOPS is 10:1-0.5:1. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 1, wherein the ratio of POPC to DOPS is about 4:1. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 1, wherein the phthalocyanine formulated in the liposome carrier is administered by transfusion or injection. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 1, wherein the light is applied about 10 minutes to about 3 hours after administering the photosensitizer formulated in the liposome carrier. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 1, wherein the light is applied about 15-60 minutes after administering the photosensitizer formulated in the liposome carrier. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 8, wherein the amount of Pc4 administered is about 0.3-3.0 mg/kg body weight of the subject. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 8, wherein the amount of Pc4 administered is about 1 mg/kg body weight. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 8, wherein the wavelength of light applied is about 700 nm. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 8, wherein the dose of light applied is about 5-25 mW/cm 2 . 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 8, wherein the dose of red light is about 18-22 mW/cm 2 . 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 8, wherein the light is applied for about 5-60 minutes. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 8, wherein the light is applied for about 20-30 minutes.